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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: AJPH.2008.139006v1 99/2/258    most recent Submit a response View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Pilowsky, D. J. Articles by Hasin, D. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Pilowsky, D. J. Articles by Hasin, D. S. Related Collections Epidemiology Family Health Adolescent Health Mental Health Alcohol

Daniel J. Pilowsky, MD, MPH, Katherine M. Keyes, MPH and Deborah S. Hasin, PhD

Daniel J. Pilowsky is with the Departments of Epidemiology and Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, and the Division of Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York. Deborah S. Hasin is with the Departments of Psychiatry and Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York. Katherine M. Keyes is with the Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Daniel J. Pilowsky, MD, MPH, Columbia University, 100 Haven Ave #30-G, New York, NY 10032 (e-mail: dp14{at}columbia.edu).

Objectives. We sought to study the association between adverse events occurring in childhood and adolescence and lifetime alcohol dependence in a representative sample of American adults.

Methods. With data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, we conducted logistic regression multivariate analyses to examine the impact of adverse events occurring in childhood (aged < 18 years) on the lifetime prevalence of alcohol dependence. We controlled for age at drinking onset, binge drinking, alcoholism in parents and grandparents of respondents, and demographic characteristics.

Results. Adverse childhood events were associated with familial alcoholism and with early and binge drinking, and therefore, we controlled for these potential confounders. Experiencing 2 or more adverse childhood events, compared with none, significantly increased the risk for alcohol dependence, even after we controlled for sociodemographic variables and disorder-specific potential confounders not considered in the extant literature (adjusted odds ratio = 1.37; 95% confidence interval = 1.06, 1.77).

Conclusions. Individuals who experienced 2 or more adverse childhood events are at increased risk for lifetime alcohol dependence. A better understanding of the factors underlying the risk for alcohol dependence is important for developing better prevention and early intervention measures.